And just like that, summer is over and all three kids are back in school.
Milo is officially a sophomore, which somehow sounds significantly older than a freshman. Liesel is starting her last year of middle school as an 8th grader, and Maddox is beginning his middle school adventure as a 6th grader. For one brief year, we have two middle schoolers and one high schooler. How did that happen? I am also very excited to have them in only two different schools instead of three!
There are definitely things I love about summer. I love having the kids around more, the slower mornings, the flexibility, and not having every afternoon and evening dictated by school and sports schedules. And I absolutely would not trade my work-from-home gig. Being able to be home and available for the kids is one of the very best parts of it.
That said, working from home while three kids are home for the summer is not exactly the same thing as simply working from home.
"Mom, can I get a ride to…?"
"Mom, can so-and-so come over?"
"Mom, can you take me…?"
Apparently, having a mom who works from home is easily confused with having a full-time personal assistant/Uber driver who occasionally does some civil engineering on the side.
So, as much as I love having them home, I am ready for a little routine—and maybe even a few uninterrupted hours to get some actual work done.
Which makes the timing of this next bit a little ironic. While working on this blog, I found out that Dolly Parton died today. My whole family knows how much I love Dolly. In fact, during car rides I regularly hear requests for "something other than Dolly Parton." I remain convinced this is mostly for show and that, deep down, they know every word and secretly love her too.
So, in honor of Dolly, the kids heading back to school, and Mom reclaiming her workday, I guess it's time to get back to “workin' 9 to 5.”
Here's to a new school year—Milo's sophomore year, Liesel's last year of middle school, Maddox's first year of middle school, a little more routine for all of us, and hopefully a few more productive hours for me.
And with that, it's time to wrap this up and go pick up the kids from school. One thing is for sure—Dolly will be playing in the car.
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